Expansible and contractible rim



Oct. 11, 1938. J B, MQR|CLE E XPANSI-B'LE AND CONTRACTIBLE RIM Original Filed May 20, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y Q. L IIJIMIMJMIIIIII!1" /777,l milllllllllllllllllllllll llwa Hf 37 M174 Inventor #707127 E/Zfarz'aie.

By 2mm A iiorneys Patented Oct. '11 1938 masses 7 EXPANSIBLE AND coN'raAo'rmLE am John B. Moricle, Williamson, W. Va.

Application May'20', 1936, SerialNo. 80,864

RenewedMarch 25, 1938 My invention relates generally to aniexpansible and contractible circular rim, for use in such:

work as supporting pneumatic tires during retreading operations and curing, and an important object of the invention is to provide simple and eflicient arrangements of this character I which are simple and easy to operate, and which are not prohibitive in cost. ,7

Another important object of my invention is to provide a device of the character indicated which substantially maintains the circular character of the rim portion throughout the expanding and contracting operations, thereby preserv ing the proper geometrical character of thework and preventing straining and distorting of the.

- work.

Other important objects of be apparent from a readingof the following description taken in connection with the drawings, 7 wherein for purposes of illustration I have. shown,

a preferred embodiment of my invention. In the drawingsz- Figure 1 is a general plan view of the embodiment showing the same in relatively unexpanded' condition. I

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectionalviewtaken through Figure l at one side of the screw.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through the right hand portion of Figure 1 and looking from left to right, 7

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 1 approximately centrally and at one side of the operating ratchet lever.

Figure 5 is an outside view of one of the screw mounting plates. 7

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 generally designates the embodiment which comprises the sectional concave rim which is generally designated 6 and which is comprised by similar long sections I and 8 and similar long sections 9 and ID, and two short screw supporting plates II and I2. J

The long sections 1 and 8 have each a square cut end I3, I4, respectively, and the opposite end thereof is beveledat its inner side as indicated by the numerals I5 and I6, respectively, to cooperate with the outside bevels I1 and I8 on the my invention. will of the long sections9 and 8 are placed immediately adjacent the squared ends of the screw sup.- porting plates I I whileithe squared ends I4 and .20 of-the long sections 1 and III are immediately adjacent the squared ends oi theshort screw supporting platesI2. 7

The long sections Band I9 have fastened thereto adjacent their squared ends the chordally directed arms 2| and 22, respectively, which have generally circular extremities 23 and 24, respec tively, which receive pivot bolts 25 and 26, re-

spectively, which pass through pairs of ears 21' and 28, respectively, formed on the inner sides 1 at the ends of the relatively stationary screwsupporting plates'l I; whereby the sections 8 and v 9 are pivotally connected to the support II.

Similar arrangements of arms 2| and 22' and of pairsof ears 21 and 28, and of pivotbolts 25' and 26' are arranged for connecting the sections 1 and ID to the relatively stationary screw.

supporting plate I2.

Each of the relatively stationary screw sup porting plates II and I2 has extending radially inwardly a tubular interiorly threaded member 29, 30, respectively, whose bore opens through the outside of the respective plates as indicated in Figure 5, by the numeral 3I.

Threaded in the respective bosses 29 and 30 is the screw 32 which has mounted at its middle a right and left hand ratchet lever 33 for operating the screw 32 in opposite directions so as or push them'away from each other.

Between the operating lever 33 and the respective bosses 29 and 30, there are placed on the screw 32 and threadably engaged therewith the blocks 34 and. 35 which are substantially parallel and elongated in the direction of swing ofthe,

lever 33, andpivot bolts with appropriate nuts 36, 31 and 38, 39'project from opposite sides of the upper'and lower ends of the blocks 34 and 35 and pivotally connect pairs of links 40 and 4|, respectively, which have their outer ends pivoted asindicated by the numerals 42 to the respective longsections; whereby the swing of the long sections in expanding and contracting directions on their respective pivots is controlled and 35 on the screw 32, the position of thescrew itself determining the distance from the center of the rim 6 of the relatively stationary plates II and I2; whereby the circular character of the rim is substantially preserved at all times.

Although I have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to to bring the plates II and I2 toward each other in accordance with the position of the blocks 34 be definitely understood that I do not desire to limit the application of the invention thereto, and any change or changes may be made inthe materials, and in the structure and arrangement of the parts, within the; spirit of the invention and the scope of the subjoined claim.

What is claimed is:-

An expansible and contractible rim of the character desoribed, said rim comprising a pair of diametrically opposed bases each formed with a socket, a shaft having its opposite ends rotatably mounted in the sockets, means for rotating said,

shaft in either direction, said shaft being formed on its surface with a left hand thread and a right hand thread at opposite sides of its middle, a carrier threaded on each of said threads and movable in opposite directions along the shaft whenever the shaft is rotated, a pair of oppositely extending links having their inner ends pivoted to each of the carriers, a rim segment pivoted intermediatcitsends on the outer end of each of said links, and pivotal connections between said bases 10 and the adjacent ends of respective rim segments. 7 JOHN B. MORICLE'. 

